Trip to Chicago brings memories of 2003 NLCS

CHICAGO -- Outfielder Juan Pierre and manager Mike Redmond have vivid memories of what happened at Wrigley Field 10 years ago this October.

The Marlins, down three games to one in the National League Championship Series against the Cubs, came back to win Games 6 and 7 to advance to, and ultimately win, the World Series.

"The World Series is the World Series," Pierre said before Monday's series opener against the Cubs. "You got the ring, but as far as the fans wanting it so much and just the whole scenario [being] down 3-1, we definitely celebrated more [at Wrigley Field after winning the NLCS] than after winning the World Series."

Pierre said that he didn't think anything of the foul ball that was deflected by fan Steve Bartman in the eight-run eighth inning of Game 6 that propelled the Marlins to a victory to avoid elimination and force Game 7.

"I [hit] a double down the line and I was on second base when the Bartman ball [was hit]," Pierre said. "I had no clue all that stuff was going on. ... We didn't even think anything of it."

Pierre said what he remembers most about that inning was the ground ball to shortstop that could have resulted in an inning-ending double play had Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez not made an error on the play.

"I remember the ground ball more than anything," Pierre added. "That's the one that as a player, you [think], man, we caught a break on that one."

Redmond was a catcher on the 2003 championship team, and said that he also remembers Games 6 and 7 well.

"We definitely talk about it, especially having [Juan Pierre] around," Redmond said. "We talk about those two games and every time I come to Chicago, that's usually the first thing I think about is that series and how electric the city was, but how loud it was out here, too.

"Those two games changed everything for us. ... It was great to be a part of it. Those are games we'll talk about for the rest of our lives."

Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said he was concerned about what he would say had the Marlins been defeated in that series.

"I remember that Game 6, I was a young general manager at the time and I was trying to figure out what to say to the team ... and then that eight-run eighth happened," Beinfest said. "I remember I just went home [and] I turned on SportsCenter to make sure it really happened."

The 2003 Marlins defeated the Yankees in six games to win the second World Series championship in franchise history.

Alvarez day to day after exiting with tight hamstring

CHICAGO -- Henderson Alvarez left Monday's 4-3 win over the Cubs in the seventh inning with a tight right hamstring. He is listed as day to day.

"The right hamstring is just a little bit tight from running the bases," Alvarez said through translator and Marlins third-base coach Joe Espada. "I think [I can make my next start]."

"I think he's going to be all right," manager Mike Redmond said. "I think it just tightened up on him. We're not calling it a strain. It just tightened up on him out on the bases."

Alvarez tossed six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three. He also hit a batter.

At the plate, Alvarez hit his first career home run and the first by a Marlins pitcher this season in the second inning, a three-run shot to left field. He was 2-for-2 on the day, also laying down a sacrifice bunt and hitting a single.

Marlins call up catcher Brantly, three pitchers

CHICAGO -- After the Marlins' 4-3 win over the Cubs on Monday, the team announced that it has recalled pitchers Arquimedes Caminero and Brad Hand, as well as catcher Rob Brantly from Triple-A New Orleans. The club has also selected the contract of left-hander Brian Flynn.

Caminero, 26, appeared in four games for the Marlins from Aug. 16-28, posting a 2.25 ERA (one earned run in four innings pitched). In 43 appearances between Double-A Jacksonville (42) and Triple-A New Orleans (1), the right-hander went 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA (21 earned runs in 54 1/3 innings pitched).

Hand, 23, pitched 1 2/3 innings for the Marlins on May 1, walking two batters without yielding a run. In 15 starts for Triple-A New Orleans, the left-hander was 3-5 with a 3.42 ERA (31 earned runs in 81 2/3 innings pitched).

Flynn, 23 -- who the team announced will be Wednesday's starter in the series finale against the Cubs -- went 7-12 with a 2.63 ERA (47 earned runs in 161 innings pitched) between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans.

Brantly, 24, hit .186 (13-for-70) in 20 games for New Orleans.

Hechavarria develops at leadoff spot in lineup

CHICAGO -- Adeiny Hechavarria moved into the leadoff spot in late July after starting the month hot at the plate. Though he hit .324 that month, he struggled in August, hitting .196.

Prior to Monday's game against the Cubs, he was hitting .227 (17-for-75) in the leadoff spot this season.

Manager Mike Redmond said he wants to get the 24-year-old more experience in the leadoff slot, and that Hechavarria has been improving.

"I think it's good experience the more he hits at the top of the order," Redmond said. "He's kind of hot-and-cold. He'll go good for a while and then start expanding the zone, but right now it seems like his at-bats have been good [and] his approach has been good. ... You may not day-in and day-out see the results, but we do, and he's worked hard at it.

"I think he's going to be a top-of-the-order type of hitter, whether it be a leadoff guy or a two-hole guy down the road."

Redmond said that Hechavarria has been working on specific areas that can help him improve as a leadoff man.

"[He's working on] a lot of things, swinging at strikes, driving the ball the other way, those things that you talk a lot about with young hitters. [Also] hitting the ball a little deeper and [hitting] the ball to right field instead of being a one-dimensional type hitter. But he's been able to make the adjustments."

Hechavarria said he's comfortable in the leadoff role.

"I feel comfortable," Hechavarria said through translator and Marlins third-base coach Joe Espada. "I'm just trying to look for a good pitch to hit and try to keep it simple. ... [As far as] adjustments, anywhere in the lineup you've always got to make adjustments. [Taking more pitches and drawing walks] is part of the plan also."

Hechavarria added that he's happy to be in the lineup, no matter what position in the order.

"I like [hitting] anywhere in the lineup," Hechavarria said. "I'm just enjoying being in the lineup."

Worth noting

• Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who left Sunday's game against the Braves in the seventh inning after tweaking his right ankle running out a grounder in the third, was back in the lineup for Monday's series opener with the Cubs.

Stanton said the ankle felt fine Monday. Redmond said Stanton's removal from Sunday's game was precautionary.

"He said he's fine and good to go," Redmond said. "We got him out of there for the last couple innings [Sunday] and I figured it was more precautionary. He's fine."

• Outfielder Justin Ruggiano, who was out of the starting lineup on Sunday with a sore calf, was back in the lineup Monday and said the calf was feeling fine.

"It just tightened up a little bit [Sunday]," Ruggiano said. "It was a dehydration-type cramp. It's fine. ... It's just one of those things where it just got tight one day and today it's almost completely better."

• Logan Morrison fouled a pitch off his left knee in Saturday's game. After a day off Sunday, he said the knee felt fine Monday.

"The knee feels great," Morrison said. "It was a little sore [Sunday] but I'm good to go."

Morrison was not in the starting lineup Monday since left-hander Travis Wood was starting for the Cubs.

• Beinfest said Monday that the club would be calling up four players from Triple-A New Orleans Tuesday, but the names had not yet been released.

He did hint, however, that the club is in need of some pitching.

"We could use some pitching," Beinfest said. "Some guys start getting tired [at this point in the season]."

Manny Randhawa is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MannyBal9. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.